To be sure, Geneva's 2012 retreat to the central Illinois weather belt wasn't a particular advantage to leaving home. A year later, however, the Vikings are antsy to head south, where they'll face Jacksonville on Friday and Danville and Buffalo Grove on Saturday.

"Obviously it's not going to be as warm as I'd like it to be," Vikings senior right-hander Andy Honiotes said, "but it'll be good enough."

And even better for Honiotes next spring. He's a Miami (Fla.) recruit.